About Me

Thursday, November 20, 2014

The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus: New Assyrian Heritage movie in Development

Stephen Andrew Missick is producing an Assyrian heritage
movie. The movie “The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus” is about the Apostle
Thaddeus, known among Assyrian Christians as Mar Addai, and the founding of the
Assyrian Church of the East. The movie will be based on ancient Assyrian
Christian literature, namely “The Doctrine of Addai” and “The Acts of the
Apostle Mari.” It is also based on other ancient sources, such as the writings
of the early church historian Eusebius.

The production crew will include three Assyrian Americans
and at least seven Assyrian Americans will be cast in major roles. This will
enable these Assyrian Americans to learn about the art of film-making and
perhaps launch their careers in either film production or acting.

Mr. Missick said, “Lorenzo Lamas has shown an interest in
playing the Apostle Thaddeus and has given me a “letter of interest” in playing
the role of Thaddeus. The movie will be filmed at the Alamo Village movie set
in Brackettville, Texas. The Assyrian American actors and production crew will
work with Lorenzo Lamas, who gave me the impression that he is a friendly and
approachable person. He can most likely tell them about the ins and outs of the
television and movie-making industry. Being involved in this project may enable
the Assyrian Americans who are involved in it to launch their careers in
film-making. This project has enormous potential to benefit the global Assyrian
community.”

He said, “This movie could also create cultural awareness,
among the Assyrian community about their own culture and can also create
awareness about the Assyrian Christian heritage outside of the Assyrian
community. I believe this is especially important at this time when the
Assyrians are facing terrible challenges and face the threat of genocide in
their ancestral homeland. “

He believes that this film project has important
educational, literary and cultural value. Missick said, “It also has important
ecumenical value in that it can bring Christians of diverse denominational
backgrounds together on the core message of Jesus and his Apostles. It is my
intention to tell this story in a sincere and reverent manner.”

The film also has the potential to be profitable. Recent
Biblical productions, such as “The Bible: The Epic Miniseries,” “The Son of
God, “ and “Noah,” has been successful, as well as faith-based films such as
“God’s Not Dead” and “Heaven is for Real.” There are also upcoming Biblical
epics such as “Exodus: God’s and Kings” and “A.D.: After the Bible.” However,
this project is unique in that the story of Thaddeus and the founding of the
Assyrian Church has never before been told in film.

If the funds are raised, we intend to begin shooting around
March 15-20.

The production company is “Walker Cable Productions” of
Conroe, Texas. WalkerCable have completed several movies, mostly westerns and
action movies.

Mr. Missick has been able to procure costumes and props for
this film that were used on screen in Spartacus,
Alexander, Rome, and Dwayne Johnson’s Hercules.

Missick says, “We are working to raise $120,000 for the
film. Once we have raised the money we will go into pre-production and begin
auditioning actors. I intend to film most of the major roles of the film with
Assyrian Americans.”

The film producer, Stephen Andrew Missick, is the author
of three papers on the history of the Assyrian Church of the East that are
published in the Journal of Assyrian Academic Studies (www.jaas.org).He is an army chaplain and a doctoral student
at Houston Graduate School of Theology. His doctoral thesis/project is entitled
“FACILITATING INTERACTION
BETWEEN THE ARAMAIC ASSYRIAN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY AND EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS FOR
ENHANCED UNDERSTANDING AND INTER-FAITH DIALOGUE, SPIRITUAL RENEWAL, AND HUMANITARIAN
ASSISTANCE” in which he will work to create awareness about the humanitarian
crisis among American churches and attempt to provide aide to needy Assyrian
Christian refugees.